Photo: Lucy Dawson
SIX new dance works, set to an original soundscape composed by UL students of Music Technology, will platform at Dance Limerick on Friday April 29 which is International Dance Day. ‘Making Space: Changing Ground’ is the composite piece that will be presented by the professional dancers of Limerick Dance Collective at this John’s Square venue.
It’s been a collaborative, organic journey for those involved. Dancer/ choreographer Kristyn Fontanella explains, “The concept is all of ours – at one of our first meetings we decided to improvise and move around and write down thoughts and words.
“Out of this, three emerged, Landscape, Mobility and Change. Through discussion it emerged, as with other areas in the arts, that these words mean different things to different people. What these three words do is anchor us in the creative piece”.
So each dancer choreographs a work and can go solo or use each other. What has emerged are three solos, a trio and a big collective improvisation.
How do the various elements come together to make sense as a whole? “We rehearse in the same space and just by being there, we are influenced by the people around and working the transitions together, pieces flow”.
With regard to the soundscape, initially the invitation to UL’s class was to observe but from this, the students paired individually with each dancer.
Kristyn Fontanella’s sound techie is Daniel Keigher and “while I am used to organic sounds from an instrument or voice, his are computer sounds, techno beats like recorded samples that can be manipulated”.
Her own background is traditional Irish dance and she brings that experience with her to everything.
Limerick’s dance artist in residence, Mary Wycherly, has oversight of the dancers and this new ensemble piece. Bring International Dance Day to life on Friday 29 with a ringside seat to ‘Making Space: Changing Ground’, 8pm. www.dancelimerick.ie
